O Pioneer
Werner Erhard is 72 years old today.
He was much younger when this picture was taken.
He's the one who started that seminar back in the 70's. You know which one I mean. The only thing most people seem to know about it is that for the first few years, those who took the seminar were not allowed to go to the bathroom for long periods of time. I was going to say something snotty about how trivial that concern is by comparison to what Werner's work makes available, but let's face it, not being able to relieve yourself is a pretty frightening thing. That's probably why Werner eventually stopped doing that.
He's a controversial figure in lots of different ways, most of which I can't comment on because (1) I don't know the details, and (2) I've been doing Werner's work for more than twenty years and I'm biased.
I never did est, but I took the later developments of the seminar - the Landmark Forum and its associated courses. I think the whole thing is amazing. Little Miss has gone so far as to say that she's found two things in life that work, prayer and the Forum. I totally agree.
Straight out, folks, if I hadn't done the Forum I would never have met Little Miss, never would have gotten married, never would have attended Clarion - in fact, I'd probably still be living at home with my mother. The Forum did that for me.
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As for Werner himself - well, let's put it this way. There's another important anniversary today. Fifty years ago today, On the Road by Jack Kerouac was published. Lots of people have made comments about what that book meant to America and to literature, and there are those who say that the life Kerouac celebrated in that book is gone from America. Today, with airplane travel so common and Greyhound buses rusting from disuse, with hitchhiking a dangerous pastime and the Internet all over everything, you can't go exploring anymore. You can't, they say, find space in which to invent your life.
Well, that may be true in the world outside, but if you ask me there's still plenty of room to invent your life in other ways, ways that make an actual difference in the world, and Werner is one of those who taught us how to do that.
Benshlomo says, Good night, Jack Rosenberg, wherever you are.
He was much younger when this picture was taken.He's the one who started that seminar back in the 70's. You know which one I mean. The only thing most people seem to know about it is that for the first few years, those who took the seminar were not allowed to go to the bathroom for long periods of time. I was going to say something snotty about how trivial that concern is by comparison to what Werner's work makes available, but let's face it, not being able to relieve yourself is a pretty frightening thing. That's probably why Werner eventually stopped doing that.
He's a controversial figure in lots of different ways, most of which I can't comment on because (1) I don't know the details, and (2) I've been doing Werner's work for more than twenty years and I'm biased.
I never did est, but I took the later developments of the seminar - the Landmark Forum and its associated courses. I think the whole thing is amazing. Little Miss has gone so far as to say that she's found two things in life that work, prayer and the Forum. I totally agree.
Straight out, folks, if I hadn't done the Forum I would never have met Little Miss, never would have gotten married, never would have attended Clarion - in fact, I'd probably still be living at home with my mother. The Forum did that for me.
As for Werner himself - well, let's put it this way. There's another important anniversary today. Fifty years ago today, On the Road by Jack Kerouac was published. Lots of people have made comments about what that book meant to America and to literature, and there are those who say that the life Kerouac celebrated in that book is gone from America. Today, with airplane travel so common and Greyhound buses rusting from disuse, with hitchhiking a dangerous pastime and the Internet all over everything, you can't go exploring anymore. You can't, they say, find space in which to invent your life.Well, that may be true in the world outside, but if you ask me there's still plenty of room to invent your life in other ways, ways that make an actual difference in the world, and Werner is one of those who taught us how to do that.
Benshlomo says, Good night, Jack Rosenberg, wherever you are.
posted by benshlomo at 9:42 PM
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